Modifying linetypes

[Anonymous]

Can linetypes be modified directly through Autocad without using Notepad ?? I have asked because modifying linetypes in notepad is tough.

[Valentin-WSP]

@Anonymous ,

As you know, linetypes are based on a *.lin file, and can be modified in a text editor that saves in ASCII format (for example, Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac OS).

• To Add a Simple Linetype to an LIN File

It is the recommended program when creating complex linetypes.

• "Note: Use a text editor such as Notepad to create the complex linetype."

[pendean]

MKLTYPE command (if you remembered to install Express Tools) might be an option: look it up in HELP to understand usage and limitations.

[Patchy]

You cannot modify any linetype definition when using Autocad.

(You can with Acad.pgp )

Why do you think modifying linetypes in notepad is tough?

You need to Google how .lin work, then it won't be.

[Anonymous]

Can linetypes be edited using autocad tools ? If yes, how? If no, its ok

[Anonymous]

linetypes is created using autocad tools but it can only be edited in notepad .....Right ??

[Patchy · Accepted solution]

linetypes is created using autocad tools?

if you use MKLTYPE

can only be edited in notepad?

Yes, notepad or word.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@Patchy wrote:

....

can only be edited in notepad?

Yes, notepad or word.

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Do NOT use a word processor such as MS Word.  Use a plain text editor [Notepad is common because it comes on computers, but there are others].

The main problem with word processors is that they can introduce specialized characters that will cause problems in linetype or Hatch pattern definitions or AutoLisp code.  Probably the most likely are "smart" quotation marks.  In a linetype definition with embedded text, the text content goes between double-quotes, for example:

*HW,-------- HW -------- HW -------- HW -------- HW

A,6.0,-.1,["HW",ROMANS,S=.3,U=0.0,X=0.0,Y=-.15],-.75

If you were to write a definition like that in MS Word, the quotes around “HW” [which I just copied out of Word and pasted in here] would become "smart" in that they know one is an open-quote [like little 6's] and the other is a close-quote [like little 9's].  Or depending on the font, the difference can be of a different nature, e.g. “HW”.  Those are different characters that will not function correctly where "plain" quotation marks are required.

You can also have hyphens turned into various kinds of specialized dash characters that will cause similar problems.

Yes, it's possible to have Word save to plain text, but people forget easily.  Several times things like non-functioning linetype definitions that people brought to this or the Customization Forum have had exactly this problem.

[Patchy]

You mean the 😀 sometimes shows in the .lsp ?

[pendean]

@sagrkarn199454 What is your real challenge here please? Sadly there is no push-button pop-up options list to creating or editing linetypes. Let us know what linetype you are trying to modify and how, someone can help you and explain the process too.

Yes, there is a learning curve, but it's not difficult to master.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@Patchy wrote:

You mean the 😀 sometimes shows in the .lsp ?

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Yes, well, that happens here even though this website doesn't do the smart-quotes conversion, and I've complained several times to say that technical Forums like these don't need emoji capability.  You were once able to turn them off when you're signed in, but that option is no longer offered.

[Anonymous]

thanks..for giving straight forward answer